3,000 Brantford-area students still need to provide proof of immunization

Immunization records for more than 3,000 local students still need updating despite a July 2015 plea to parents to address the issue, according to the Brant County Health Unit.

As a result, students could face suspension from school this spring under the Immunization of School Pupils Act if necessary immunization information isn't forthcoming.

The number of student records to be updated "is high but not surprising, considering (that) three new vaccines were recently added to the school immunization requirements," said Ruth Gratton, manager of infectious diseases at the health unit. Those vaccines for whooping cough, meningitis and chickenpox (for students born in 2010 or after) were added to the requirements in 2014.

"We wanted to give parents time to meet these new requirements before issuing suspension orders," Gratton said. She also noted that, during previous school-age vaccination reviews, the number of outstanding students drops significantly as the suspension period nears.

Last July the health unit sent letters to parents of nearly 6,700 elementary and secondary students in Brantford and Brant County, informing them of the necessity to provide updated vaccination information.

A second reminder letter will be mailed Feb. 29 to parents of students who may be affected by the suspension process, Gratton said. The letter will include a suspension order, noting a suspension period of April 28 to May 26, she said.

The February letter also will review what immunization information is missing as well as options to get missed vaccines.

"We expect most parents who receive the second letter will get their child's immunizations up-to-date before the suspension period," Gratton said. "Our previous experience has shown that the majority of students who are suspended are back to school within one to two days."

Gratton said that health unit staff will work with parents to make sure children are fully protected and not suspended.

"However, students whose immunizations are not updated will be suspended until they meet immunization requirements or 20 school days have passed," she said.

During the last student immunization review, 217 elementary students and 116 secondary students were suspended under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, Gratton said. The majority of those students were back to school within one to two days, she said.

It is a parent's responsibility to report immunizations, not a doctor or doctor's office, Gratton said.

All required vaccinations can be given by the student's family doctor except one vaccine required for students over the age of 12, according to the health unit.

Students without a family doctor as well as students over 12 who need the vaccine for meningococcal disease must book an appointment with the health unit by calling 519-753-4937, ext. 449.

Clinics are also being planned for students who do not have or can't get an appointment with their family doctor, Gratton said.

The health unit's vaccine preventable disease team is being dedicated to the student vaccination issue and will be answering questions, updating records and running immunization clinics, she said.

The number of letters sent out last summer jumped by 50 per cent from the previous year but most children had received their vaccines and it was simply a matter of parents not reporting them to the health unit, Gratton said earlier.

Another reason for the increase in letters was the health unit's decision not to suspend students for the past two years to allow parents time to understand new immunization requirements, she said.

More information about immunization is available at www.bchu.org/immunization or by calling 519-753-4937, ext. 451.